THE TEAM
Jorge Esteban | DIRECTOR
Jorge's professional career encompasses over 33 years in the telecommunications industry, having have held various positions and titles in Network, Information Technology, Product Management, Finance, Engineering and Project Management. He is a graduate of Florida International University in Miami, Florida , having majored in Business Management and obtained a minor in Marketing. In 1990, he earned a Master's Degree in Project Management from George Washington University in Washington, DC. Jorge has worked in the pageant interview industry since 2006 and worked mostly as a freelance interview consultant until 2014.
A strong believer that communication skills and interpersonal skills are key to interview success, he created his own company PageantSmart, LLC and quickly became a global leader in the industry. Working across many pageant systems, Jorge understands different judging criteria, formats, wardrobe choices, interview styles and tailors his NO FEAR program to the client. Jorge has had over 60 state USA winners in the past 7 years of working in the pageant industry. In the Miss USA/Miss Teen USA pageants owned by the Miss Universe Organization, Jorge's interview clients have consistently placed amongst the top positions and has had two Miss Teen USA winners in 2010 & 2015 as well as Miss USA in 2014.
Rick Diehl Esteban | LOGISTICS
Rick is a graduate from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, having received a Bachelor of Music - Vocal Performance in 1980.He briefly sang with the Miami Metropolitan Opera before beginning a 20+ year career in telecommunications.
After accepting an early retirement offer in 2002, he embarked on a new career as a flight attendant for Atlantic Southeast Airlines, then a subsidiary of Delta Airlines. In 2015, he retired once again! Rick now devotes his spare time working on new business development for PageantSmart, LLC- a leading global pageant industry company. He continues to share his passion for music and helps prepare young women in vocal performance training. He also has launched a new branch to his business portfolio by working with high school students and helping them prepare for college and scholarship interviews.
On the Miss Universe Iceland team, he is responsible for logistics planning and business development. In his spare time, Rick enjoys gardening, home remodeling projects, playing the piano, singing and traveling around the world!
Manuela Osk | DIRECTOR
Manuela Osk is a graduate of the Iceland Academy of the Arts, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design.
A successful fashionista, blogger, model, and stylist, she has participated in the fashion and beauty industry for many years. She's worked for Sonya Rykiel during the Paris Fashion Week, as well as worked for CLD PR in Los Angeles, California.
Manuela is also one of the leading branding and social media celebrities in her country and is one of the most recognized women in Iceland.
Manuela won the Miss Reykjavik and Miss Iceland pageants in 2002, and was first runner-up in the subsequent Miss Scandinavia pageant. She traveled to Panama City, Panama to participate in the Miss Universe contest in 2003 but had to withdraw due to hospitalization for severe dehydration.
Being named as the new National Director for Miss Universe Iceland is a dream come true for her.
Elísa Gróa Steinþórsdóttir | CHOREOGRAPHER
Elísa Gróa is a former Ungfrú Ísland and represented Iceland at the 2021 Miss Universe competition. She started dance training at the age of 4, and became a professional dancer and dance instructor by the age of 15.
In 2022 she choreographed the Miss Universe Iceland show, alongside of completing her reign and crowning her successor.
Today Elísa works a full-time job as a flight attendant, and a part-time job as a choreographer. She’s also a certified makeup artist, and an advocate for suicidal prevention.